Hydrator



April 3, 1934.

J. E. MCCLUNEY 1,953,765

HYDRATOR Filed April 5, 1950 1 INVENTOR. Jyqea E. 70611055 1 ATTORNEY.

Patented Apr. 3, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 1,953,765 HYDRATOR James E. McCluney, Detroit, Mich. Application April 5, 1930, Serial No. 441,981

1 Claim.

My invention relates to a new and useful improvement in a hydrator adapted for use, particularly in mechanical refrigerators and intended to provide a receptacle in which fresh vegetables such as lettuce, celery and the like, may be deposited in a mechanical refrigerator and so protected while in the refrigerator as to prevent it dehydrating or becoming wilted. In order to preserve such commodities in a mechanical refrigerator it is necessary that evaporation from the articles be retarded, to prevent wilting so that the articles may be maintained in a fresh condition. At the same time it is necessary that proper circulation or ventilation of the commodities be afforded. It is also desirable that the receptacle in which such commodities be placed be transparent so that the articles may be inspected at a glance without removing the cover from the receptacle or without removing the receptaclefrom the refrigerator.

It is also desirable that the receptacle be of such a construction that proper sanitary conditions may be maintained at all times and a thorough cleansing of the receptacle easily and quickly effected. To this end, and in order to accomplish the objects mentioned, I have provided a receptacle formed from glass or similar vitreous material in which the articles may be placed and evaporation from the articles retarded while at the same time proper ventilation through circulation of air may be maintained.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a receptacle of this class formed preferably from transparent vitreous material so arranged and constructed that the cover thereof may be seated firmly on the receptacle and at the same time circulation permitted through the receptacle.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

The invention consists in the combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and claimed.

The invention will be best understood by a reference to the accompanying drawing which forms a part of this specification and in which,

Fig. l is a perspective view of the invention with the cover in separated relation to the receptacle.

Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view of the invention showing the cover in closing position.

The receptacle which is preferably formed from glass is provided with end walls 8 and 9 and side walls 10 and 11. Notches or recesses 12 are formed in the upper edge of the side walls 10 and 11. A cover 13 which is also preferably formed from the same material as the receptacle is provided with ribs 14 depending from the under surface at each of the sides so as to engage, when the cover is in position on the receptacle, the inner surface of the side walls 10 and 11 of the end walls 8 and 9. An outward bulge 15 is formed at opposite ends of the cover 13 to afford a gripping surface. As shown in Fig. 2, the cover is of such a size that it extends beyond the outer surface of the receptacle, thus providing an outwardly extended flange.

When the articles to be placed in the receptacle' are placed in the receptacle and the cover positioned as shown in Fig. 2, the receptacle may then be placed in a refrigerator and the commodities in the receptacle preserved in their fresh condition maintaining their natural crispness and free from wilting for a considerable period of time. In this way the objectionable features commonly experienced with mechanical refrigeration when fresh vegetables are placed in the refrigerator are overcome and the advantages sought for are obtained. The recesses 12 permit the proper circulation through the receptacle and the cover retards evaporation from the articles in the receptacle. The over hanging flange forming portion of the cover also facilitates circulation of air through the receptacle and serves as a deflector for air which passes through the recess 12.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred form of my invention, I do not wish to limit myself to the precise details of structure shown. but desire to avail myself of such variations and modifications as may come within the scope of the appended claim.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to avail myself by Letters Patent is:

A hydrator of the class described, comprising: a receptacle formed from vitreous material and having recesses formed in its upper edge and extending downwardly therefrom; a planal cover positioned on said receptacle and resting on the upper edges, said cover overhanging the outer surface of all of the sides of said receptacle and providing a deflecting flange for air passing through and upwardly from said recesses; ribs projecting inwardly from the surface of said cover adjacent its edges and engaging the inner surfaces of the walls of said receptacle and preventing dislodgnient of said cover, said ribs terminating above the lower end of said recesses and being shorter than the surface of the wall engaged to provide a space between adjacent ends of said ribs.

JAMES E. MCCLUNEY. 

